Kathmandu, November 17

The United States today launched the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) in Nepal. Aimed at partnering with Nepal for food security, nutrition and prosperity, GFSS is the US government’s global hunger and food security initiative.

A tri-party agreement was signed between the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Embassy of the United States in Nepal today for GFSS alliance with food and nutrition security plans of Nepal and help reduce poverty here.

Addressing the GFSS launching ceremony, Michael C Gonzales, charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in Nepal, said that the GFSS intends to strengthen collaboration with Nepali stakeholders to improve food and nutrition security in the country and improve the livelihood of people in Nepal through increased agricultural production.

“Nepal has made substantial achievements in fighting hunger and reducing poverty in the past few years. However, more than four million Nepalis are still in poverty,” said Gonzales, adding, “GFSS solely aims at improving food and nutrition security in Nepal by enhancing the agriculture sector.”

Meanwhile, Gonzales also said that leaders and bureaucrats of Nepal should rise above their vested interests, emphasise partnership and focus on strong policy foundation to achieve the goals of GFSS and food and nutrition security plans of the country.

Similarly, Gary Linden, acting senior deputy assistant to the Administrator of Bureau of Food Security, USAID, Washington, said the collaboration between GFSS and Nepal’s food and nutrition security plans will be crucial to eradicate poverty in the country.

Addressing the event, Geeta Bhakta Joshi, member of National Planning Commission, said GFSS for Nepal is a model and guideline to collectively address challenges regarding food and nutrition security in the country.

Likewise, MoAD Secretary Suroj Pokhrel expressed his commitment to implement GFSS in Nepal, in partnership with the US Embassy.

Secretary of MoH Kiran Regmi said Nepal has made remarkable progress in key nutrition indicators in the last few decades. “The government is committed to scale up multi-sector nutrition programmes by partnering with the US,” said Regmi.